Improvement in the manufacture of friction-matches



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GIDEON Gr. DENNIS, OF DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FRICTION-MATCHES.

Specification fomningparkof Letters Patent No. 48,913, dated July 25,1865.

hereby declare that the following description' lhe nature ot' myinvention and improvements consists in arming or applying the ignitingmaterials to each or both ends of thev match stock, splint., or stick,so that one end can be ignited to serve one occasion and the other endignited to serve another occasion, thereby making the stocks or splintsdo double the service that they have done heretofore;

also, in making match stocks or splints by cutting or sawing into eachend ot' the block, sheet, or card of match stui' or material so as toleave the stocks or splints joined in the middle by a portion of thematerial so narrow that the splint can` be easily and readily split 0rbroken off when the matches are wanted for use.

In the above-mentioned drawings, Figure lis a friction-match stock orsplint with the iguiting materials applied to each end. Fig. 2 is a cardor sheet of match material cut or sawed in at each end and left joinedin the middle. Fig. 3 is a block cut or sawed in at each end so as toform stocks or splints upon both ends ofthe block and leave them joinediu the middle by a portion strong enough to hold them together d nringthe subsequent processes ot' dipping or charging each end with ignitingmaterials or composition, yet leaving the middle connection, C, so smalland slight that the splints B B may be easily and readily split orbroken 'olf to separate them when wanted for use. In each of thesedrawings the igniting material is shown in red at both ends of thesplints.

In making my improved matches either of the well-knownhighly-combustible compositions may be used, some of which are describedin American and foreign patents and several in H. Dussanccs treatise onfriction-matches, gun-cotton, 85e., published by H. 4C. Baird,Philadelphia, 1864. As matches are generally used only aboutYone-quarter or one-third, at

most, of thesplint or stick is usually burnt, so that by applying theigniting composition to each end ot' the stick it is made to do doubleservice and serve for two lightings instead of one. Hence in making myimproved matches for a given number ot' lightings or kndlings one halfof the lumber and one half of the labor in making the splints may besaved; and in allsubsequentprocesses of mannt'acturefas dipping, &c.there will only be one-halt' the number ot' blocks to handle to produce agiven number otlightings; Abesides one-half of the boxes, both large andsmall, one-haltot the paper-and twine, and one-half of thelabor otpacking, and one-half ot' the transportation,

and with all these savings the matches can be j aiorded far cheaper tothe consumer. c

What I claim as my invention and improvementiu friction-matches is.-

1. Armin gorapplying theiguiting materials or composition to each orboth ends of the match stocks or splints, so as to make each splint orstick serve t'or two lightin gs instead of one.

2. Making matches by cutting or sawinginto each end ot' a block, card,or sheet of match material so as to leave the splints joined at themiddle, substantially as described, and then applying the ignitingmaterial or composition to both ends of the stocks or splints so made orformed.

GIDEON G. DENNIS.

Witnesses:

JEREMIAH MAHONEY, JOHN S. NUTE.

